Matrix and space-band cleaning mechanism for type-setting machines.



No. 664,860. Patented Jan. I, 190i.

D. A. HENSLEY.

MATRIX AND SPACE BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR TYPE SETTING MACHINES.

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1900.) N 0 M o d e l 2 Sheets-Sheet l;

WITNESSES i 5 nvmvron AQMQQJZTFD 0 (9 g w r 7 I W 6% W flip/h Arromv s m: NKJHHIS PETERS cu, Moro-Una. wnnmomn, c c.

No. 664,860. Patented Ian. I, l9 0l. D. A. HENSLEY.

MATRIX AND SPACE BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR TYPE SETTING MACHINES.

Application filed Feb. 6, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 SheetaSheeI 2.

zzge

W/ TN E 885 S 2948 lNVEA/Tl? @NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID AUSTIN HENSLEY, OF VIOKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH TO ROBERT A. QUIN, OF SAME PLACE.

MATRIX AND SPACE-BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR TYPE-SETTING MACHINES;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,860., dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed February 6, 1900, Serial No. 4,155. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID AUSTIN HENS- LEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vicksburg, in the county of Warren and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and Improved Matrix and Space-Band Cleaning Mechanism for Type-Setting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

My invention relates to linotypes and similar type-setting and type-casting machines, and has for its object to provide means by which the type-matrices and space-bands will be cleaned automatically during their ordinary travel through the linotype-that is,

without any special manipulation and with out loss of time. By thus keeping the matrices and space-bands clean I avoid the necessity for a frequent renewal of these parts which is generally experienced. The reason of this drawback is the formation of burs on the matrices and space-bands, which in turn is due to the lodging of dirt on the side walls of the matrices or to the accumulation of metal 2 5 on the space-bands. These defects, as well as the clogging of the matrixohannels by metal adhering to the matrices, I avoid by the use of brushes operating and arranged as will be fully described hereinafter, and particularly 3o pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

5 Figure l is a front elevation of part of a linotype-machine provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail. view of the mechanism connected with the brush for cleaning the type-faces of the matrices on their way 0 from the casting device to the magazine. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. i is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale as compared with Fig. 1, of part of a linotype provided with my improvements. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the brush for cleaning the front faces of the matrices on their way from the magazine to the casting device. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a sectional plan and a sectional elevation on lines 6 6 of Fig. 7 and 7 7 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of the mechanism for driving the brushes which clean the sides of the matrices and space-bands.

The main parts of the linotype are arranged in the customary manner and need not, therefore, be described in detail. Thus 7 indicates the channels through which the matrices M pass from the magazine A to the upper surface of the matrix-belt B, which carries them in the direction indicated by the arrow. This belt runs over the customary pulleys l and 4: and passes farther in contact with pulleys 2 and 3. The pulley 4 is located on the drive-shaft 16, which carries the main pulley 15. On the drive-shaft 16 is also located a toothed wheel 8, which drives a gearwheel 5, engaging a pinion 6 on the shaft of a brush 1), the periphery of which is located in the path of the matrices discharged from the upper run of the belt. The toothed wheel 8 is not an additional part, but is the same wheel which drives the assembling star. (Not shown.) In approximately the same horizontal plane with the brush b is located another rotary brush CL, which may be rotated simply by peripheral contact with the brush 1) or by means of a pinion 17. The matrices thus pass between the brushes a b to the guide-plate l3 and into the assembler 14. The space-bands, which are contained in the box 11, pass down through the channel 12, leading to the assembler 14, and are cleaned by the brush a, which projects into said chan-. nel, as shown. The matrices therefore, as well as the space-bands, are cleaned on the -sides each time they pass into the assembler without removing them from the machine. It will be observed that the matrices, as shown in Fig. 4, come in engagement with the brushes a b as they fall off the matrix-belt, I

and the brushes, besides cleaning the matrices, have the function of breaking their fall, so as to avoid injury to the matrices and to the guide-plate 13. The assembler 14, with the line of matrices, having been raised, as usual, comes opposite the delivery-channel 9, adjacent to which are secured springs 10, exerting an inward pressure upon opposing brushes 0 and (Z, which extend lengthwise of said channel and are adapted to engage the front and the back of the matrices, as shown in Fig. 7, thus cleaning particularly the face against which the type is cast, also the front face presented to the operator. By the action of these brushes 0 and 01 each line is held intact and kept from pieing.

It will be understood that first each character and space-band is cleaned automatically before it reaches the assembler, thus overcoming the necessity for frequently removing them from the machine for the pur-, pose of cleaning them by hand. Furthermore, the matrices are cleaned on their front and rear faces after being assembled, and there is therefore little danger of the matrices becoming burred or injured.

In order to brush off line particles of typemetal which adhere to the faces of the matrices after their contact with the molten metal and to thereby prevent a clogging of the matrix-channels, particularly those adjacent to the distributer-box, I provide a mechanism arranged to engage the castingfaces of. the matrices on their way from the casting device to the magazine. The only available point for the location of such a cleaning mechanism is at the distributer-box. The usual back feed-screw is designated by the numeral 18, and this carries the ordinary cam 19 for operating the matrix-lift. (Not shown.) The said screw is further provided with a worm 20, driving a worm-wheel 21 upon a Vertical shaft 22, journaled in brackets 23, projecting from the back plate 24 of the distributer-box. This shaft carries a pinion 25, engaging a pinion 26 on the shaft 27 of the brush 28. The latter projects through an opening 29 in the back plate 24: and engages the entire casting-face of the matrix M between the ears M thereof, the upper rail of the back plate being interrupted for this purpose. The upper rail 30 of the front plate 31 and the combination-bar 32 remain unaltered. By the gearing described the brush 28 is turned in the direction opposite to the travel of the matrices and is thus caused to thoroughly clean the casting-surface, so that there is no'danger of the matrix-channels becoming clogged, and the frequent brushing of the matrix-channels, as now required, is dis: pensed with.

Matrices when employed in a machine fitted with my improvements will not require so frequent renewal as when used in a linotype of the present construction. No additional labor and no decreased output are entailed by the use of my cleaning devices, as these are entirely automatic and do not appreciably retard the passage of the matrices and spacebands through the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1 In a type-setting and type-casting machine, the'combination with the matrix-belt, of opposing matrix-brushes located in approximately vertical alinement with the discharge-point of the belt, so that the matrices discharged from the belt will fall bet-weem said brushes.

2. In a type-setting and type-casting ma= chine, the combination with the matrix-belt,

of opposing matrix-brushes located in approximately vertical alinement with the discharge-point of the belt, so that the matrices discharged from the belt will pass between said brushes and will be cleaned and checked in their fall.

3. In a type-setting and type-casting machine, two spaced opposing yieldingly-mounted brushes arranged to engage the front and rear faces respectively of the matrices or.

types during their passage from the magazine or receptacle to the casting mechanism.

4. In a linotype-m'achine, the combination with the matrix-belt, the assembler, and the frame having a space-band channel and a delivery channel, of two rotary brushes arranged to receive and pass between them the matrices discharged from said belt, to clean said matrices on their sides, one of said brushes also projecting into the space-band rotary brushes arranged to receive and pass between them the matrices discharged from said belt, to clean said matrices on their sides, one of said brushes also projecting into 7 the space-band channel to clean the casting sides of the space-bands.

6. In a linotype-machine, the combination with the matrix-belt and a plurality of p ul-. 1

leys supporting the same, the belt having an inwardly-extending or return portion between two of said pulleys to form a clearance between them, of two rotary brushes projecting into said clearance and operatively connected with one of said pulleys, and arranged to receive and pass between them, the matrices discharged from said belt.

7. In a linotype-machine, a rotary brush located in part exteriorly of the back plate of the distributer-box and projecting through an opening in said plate to engage the casting-face of the matrices, and means for to tat'ing said brush in a direction opposite to the travel of the matrices.

8. In a linotype-machine, a rotary brush located in part e'xteriorly of the back plate of the distributer-box and projecting through an opening in said plate to engage the cast- Its ing-face 0f the matrices, a Worm on the back I name to this specification in the presence of feed-screw, a worm-Wheel engaging said two subscribing Witnesses. Worm, and gearing connecting said wormwheel with the brush to rotate the latter in a direction opposite to the travel of the mat,- rices.

In testimony whereof I have signed my DAVID AUSTIN HENSLEY.

Witnesses:

P. L. HENNEssEY, E. O. SESSIONS. 

